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Silent Flowers: A New Collection of Japanese Haiku Poems
Selected from Haiku, v. 1-4, by R. H. Blyth.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 6, 2018
What a lovely little gem! I came across this when browsing at one of my favorite used bookshops, and because of my interest in Japanese culture, I decided it would be a nice read. What I loved about these poems was that they captured mundane moments that can be easily overlooked, but there was a pure simplistically to the subject matter that brought out their beauty. The editor of this collection wrote a brief introduction, stating that "the point of a haiku is implied rather than directly expressed" and that it's up to the reader to come up with his or her own meaning; I'd never had haiku described to me like that, which is one reason I believe my reading was enriched, as I looked at the poems beyond face value. Another reason this was so enjoyable was the illustrations, which added to the book's charm and helped me better imagine the images in each haiku.
June 18, 2016
To be totally honest, the two star rating is just from my perspective as someone who doesn't really like nature poetry. I'm more into introspective poetry about people and whatnot, so this wasn't really for me. I picked it up and didn't really think about the name being indicative of the content.
Otherwise, I can see how it would be good. There are quite a few different authors in here.
Otherwise, I can see how it would be good. There are quite a few different authors in here.
April 18, 2018
On Christmas my grandma gifted me with her older poetry books as she was cleaning the house and she had kept these/been gifted them from her mother in law aka my great grandma. So if you see me reviewing books in the future that don't have that many reviews on here and have a publication date from the 60's or later than you know why.
This is a poetry book focusing on flowers and nature, written in haiku format with beautiful charcoal drawings on every page. I loved the art but thought the overall writing was okay. It's a beautiful format but not for me but I still enjoyed it nevertheless. I tend to prefer poetry with depth and deals with emotions and soul. But I do like flowers and nature, don't get me wrong. The writing is very Floral and cute.
This is a poetry book focusing on flowers and nature, written in haiku format with beautiful charcoal drawings on every page. I loved the art but thought the overall writing was okay. It's a beautiful format but not for me but I still enjoyed it nevertheless. I tend to prefer poetry with depth and deals with emotions and soul. But I do like flowers and nature, don't get me wrong. The writing is very Floral and cute.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
April 20, 2019895.6 at Rolla
No time to read it carefully now but it certainly does merit careful reading.
My son read it first and took photos of some of his favorite poems and illustrations.
They do deserve it.
I do love the art; it looks so authentic. And the author's note reinforces and expands on what I've already learned about haiku.
He and I worked out one possible interpretation of one of them:
The face of the dragonfly
Is practically nothing
But eyes.
Chisoku
We decided that one satisfying way to think about this is akin to the Western proverb 'keep your eye on the prize.' In other words, the dragonfly, a predator, uses its powers of observation to achieve its goal. It doesn't rely on its ears, which would be only attuned to creatures (goals) not being secretive (worthy), or its mouth, because mouths are for eating and speaking.
Excellent little sampler, recommended if you happen to have access.
No time to read it carefully now but it certainly does merit careful reading.
My son read it first and took photos of some of his favorite poems and illustrations.
They do deserve it.
I do love the art; it looks so authentic. And the author's note reinforces and expands on what I've already learned about haiku.
He and I worked out one possible interpretation of one of them:
The face of the dragonfly
Is practically nothing
But eyes.
Chisoku
We decided that one satisfying way to think about this is akin to the Western proverb 'keep your eye on the prize.' In other words, the dragonfly, a predator, uses its powers of observation to achieve its goal. It doesn't rely on its ears, which would be only attuned to creatures (goals) not being secretive (worthy), or its mouth, because mouths are for eating and speaking.
Excellent little sampler, recommended if you happen to have access.
February 8, 2012
It's a shame that the book's beautiful cover isn't posted here.
Anyway-
I picked up this and another book on Haikus to re-attempt understanding poems. Why Haikus? Well, I figured that much of what I don't understand with Western poetry (greek/roman mythology references, rhyming and meter schemes, etc) this lacked. It turns out that what was dropped from western poetry was filled in with other stuff I didn't exactly know what to make of.
That being said, I did enjoy many of the poems in here. Normally I would rate this 4 stars, but honestly it's a poetry book. It's not like I can compare translations, and the pictures were lovely (and actually related to the imagery in the poems). I have no complaints, plus, I think I can go out and check out more books on poetry. Fairly exciting that I have another genre to explore.
Anyway-
I picked up this and another book on Haikus to re-attempt understanding poems. Why Haikus? Well, I figured that much of what I don't understand with Western poetry (greek/roman mythology references, rhyming and meter schemes, etc) this lacked. It turns out that what was dropped from western poetry was filled in with other stuff I didn't exactly know what to make of.
That being said, I did enjoy many of the poems in here. Normally I would rate this 4 stars, but honestly it's a poetry book. It's not like I can compare translations, and the pictures were lovely (and actually related to the imagery in the poems). I have no complaints, plus, I think I can go out and check out more books on poetry. Fairly exciting that I have another genre to explore.
March 17, 2015
look at the drawings again
February 20, 2019
I adore this little gem!
May 10, 2023
I bought a few haiku books by a local author earlier this year. I went back to the used bookstore recently and found this little gem. I have been a lover of poetry my entire life but only recently become interested and able to really "get" haikus. One of the key things is to read a haiku book slowly, take your time and savor them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many of the poems made me smile, things most people can relate to. I love that there are multiple poets in this book. The artwork is also quite lovely and adds to the beauty of "Silent Flowers". The only thing I cannot speak on is how well done the translations are from Japanese to English. They are excellent. I appreciate they seem to be translated to be as true to the original as possible rather than try to fit them into the 5x7x5 syllable lines in English.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many of the poems made me smile, things most people can relate to. I love that there are multiple poets in this book. The artwork is also quite lovely and adds to the beauty of "Silent Flowers". The only thing I cannot speak on is how well done the translations are from Japanese to English. They are excellent. I appreciate they seem to be translated to be as true to the original as possible rather than try to fit them into the 5x7x5 syllable lines in English.
February 16, 2026
an extraordinary collection of haikus, a literary form which surprises simply what is happening in this place, at this moment, as Basho wrote in the 17th century.
"Silent flowers
Speak also
To that obedient ear within" (Onitsura)
"Silent flowers
Speak also
To that obedient ear within" (Onitsura)
January 6, 2018
into the ancient pond
a frog jumps in -
the sound of water
a frog jumps in -
the sound of water
April 18, 2020
I love Haiku, and this was some of the best. I loved it.
November 3, 2020
A quick, easy read with some very thoughtful gems
December 7, 2020
Beautiful. Peaceful. Serene.
Illustrations just makes it more peaceful
Illustrations just makes it more peaceful
November 14, 2022
Pretty. Sweet. Reminded me that beauty and sweetness can be small vignettes, and doesn't necessarily require a long wind.
September 1, 2023
light 3/5 not the best collection i’ve read tbh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2025
some good classic haikus; made me want to read more of issa’s especially
May 5, 2025
“An autumn eve
There is a joy too
In loneliness.”
There is a joy too
In loneliness.”
July 19, 2025
A lovely collection of haikus. I enjoyed the illustrations.
February 6, 2022
Beautifully elegant
November 20, 2020
A thin, narrow book, about the size of a road map that has been folded badly once, and then folded again correctly, but is now thicker than it used to be. The pages are unnumbered and have one to four haiku on each and are occasionally accompanied by an illustration by Nanae Ito. Ito's inky watercolors are beautiful, depicting birds, mountain villages, flowers, and insects, and complement the subject of nearby haiku.
Poets include the big three—Basho, Buson, and Issa—as well as many others who are still unfamiliar to me. Here are two of my favorites:
New Year's Day:
The desk and bits of paper,—
Just as last year.
—Matuso
The stillness;
A bird walking on the fallen leaves:
The sound of it.
—Ryushi
And this poem by Gochiku has echoes of William Stafford's "Ask Me":
The long night;
The sound of the water
Says what I think.
The translations are by R.H. Blyth. Editor Dorothy Price arranged them according to theme, and there's a page in here that has four poems about chrysanthemums, with an illustration of a chrysanthemum on the facing page. This happens a lot. Reading four poems about frogs in a row gets repetitive quickly, no matter how much I love frogs, and that sameness weakens each successive poem, as if you are judging a frog poem contest and these are the entries, and suddenly you would like to read about anything else but frogs. It makes it hard to appreciate individual poems. This would best be read one sip at a time.
Poets include the big three—Basho, Buson, and Issa—as well as many others who are still unfamiliar to me. Here are two of my favorites:
New Year's Day:
The desk and bits of paper,—
Just as last year.
—Matuso
The stillness;
A bird walking on the fallen leaves:
The sound of it.
—Ryushi
And this poem by Gochiku has echoes of William Stafford's "Ask Me":
The long night;
The sound of the water
Says what I think.
The translations are by R.H. Blyth. Editor Dorothy Price arranged them according to theme, and there's a page in here that has four poems about chrysanthemums, with an illustration of a chrysanthemum on the facing page. This happens a lot. Reading four poems about frogs in a row gets repetitive quickly, no matter how much I love frogs, and that sameness weakens each successive poem, as if you are judging a frog poem contest and these are the entries, and suddenly you would like to read about anything else but frogs. It makes it hard to appreciate individual poems. This would best be read one sip at a time.
May 28, 2016
A short and sweet collection of haiku from the Masters (the likes of Basho, Issa, and Buson among others), which makes it a nice single afternoon read. While many of the poems featured are pieces I've read in other volumes it was nice to revisit them. Beautiful sketches by Nanae Ito give these little poems yet another element of beauty.
August 11, 2015
like a cooling breath the poems show how nature can excite and calm us... the art work is mesmerising.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews